West Seventh Street warehouse could become mini-storage site

A private company has proposed converting an empty warehouse next to the Schmidt Artist Lofts on West Seventh Street into a mini-storage facility.

The St. Paul Planning Commission's zoning committee will review the proposal from Todd Jones and Premier Storage, LCC at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at City Hall. The storage facility would have to receive special permit approval as a "non-conforming use."

Owned by Bruce Hendry, the 78,000 square feet of vacant warehouse space at 543 James Ave. has been for sale or for lease for the past five years. Previous efforts to install a microbrewery and restaurant were unsuccessful, according to Jones' permit application.

Northern States Power and Dedicated Logistics, Inc. occupied the site from 2005 to 2009.